Ian Somerhalder, star of the CW network’s “The Vampire Diaries,” watched the early days of the BP oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico from afar, but knew he eventually had to see the story in person.

CWIan Somerhalder in 'The Vampire Diaries.'

“Because you can only know so much from the media,” he said. “I knew when this damage started happening, it was going to take awareness. The stark impact on the wildlife, that was my main concern.

“My condolences to the families of the men who lost their lives. So horrible. But the ecological impact and the impact to the wildlife is going to be devastating. To think about that oil hitting the marshes …

“I grew up in that bayou, in those marshes. Having fished all the coastline in Louisiana and Mississippi, I know how delicate that ecosystem is. The thought of that oil sinking into the root systems of those plants, killing the oysters, crabs and shrimp, sends chills down your spine. I had to be there now.”

Working through a friend on staff at local CW affiliate WNOL-Channel 38, Somerhalder made preliminary contact with Rick Erbach, news director for WNOL and ABC affiliate WGNO-Channel 26, both owned by parent Tribune Broadcasting.

Somerhalder’s query was simple, Erbach said: “What can I do to help?”

“He’s an outdoorsman,” Erbach said. “Lake Pontchartrain and the bayous were his back yard growing up.”

The spots, which are intended to be both informational and fund-raising vehicles, could begin airing this weekend, and will be distributed to other Tribune TV stations around the country.

While he was in the area earlier this week to shoot the PSAs, Somerhalder also took a disheartening boat tour of the endangered areas.

Some of the floating oil “looks like yellow lily pads almost,” said Somerhalder, whose “Lost” character, Boone Carlyle, died in the series' first season but may make a final appearance during the run-up to the May 23 series finale. “It sticks to everything, and it smells like oil that’s been in a car.

“Then there are these big red oil slicks that were reddish-brown, a strange looking color, almost like tapioca pudding. You put you hand in it … it sticks and becomes this sheen. This in the grasslands? That really viscous stuff? It’s everywhere.”